Patched or Unpatched?

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dougiefreshhh

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Hi All:

First, I really appreciate the commentary in the other thread regarding my questions about a good starter Musket. The feedback has been nothing short of great!

I have another question regarding a comment on a used .75 cal BB for sale.

It states that it shoots "a .715 unpatched roundball with 80-90 grains of black powder." :confused:

Excuse my silly question, but in the books I've read, and the videos ive watched on loading a musket, they always show the main charge being packed down with some paper (i.e from the paper cartridge), and then ball is packed down.

Is this what is called an 'unpatched' ball?

I'm guessing that a 'patched' ball is one where you do the same as above, but before loading the ball, you put some thin cloth on the muzzle, rest the ball on the cloth, and then stuff that down.

Again, sorry for the elementary queston, but any help would be appreciated!

Thx,
Doug
 
There are ways to paper patch a ball, but for most shooting purposes a cloth patch can hold more lube to keep the fouling soft, make loading easier and for better accuracy.

Reenactors may use paper cartridges as over powder wads and for shooting blank loads.

But most range shooters use thicker lubed 100% cotton patches with round balls that are about .020 under the bore size.

If paper cartridges were used to hold powder then sure, ram the paper to serve as an over powder wad, especially with loose fitting balls.
But shooting with bare balls [or loose paper patched balls] are more for ease of reloading with a fouled bore during battle.
 
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You can go either way with a musket or trade gun. Try one way then the other, with different dimension balls. Another method I use with smoothbores is to start the day patching slightly smaller roundballs then just load the bare ones of a slightly larger dimension as the barrel gets cruddier.
 
It's a legitimate question.

Military loads for smoothbore muskets were undersized for rapid loading. You ripped open a paper cartridge, poured the powder down the bore, follow with the ball - and the paper, to hold it in place.

For accuracy, you have two choices. If you have a bore in good condition, a patched bullet works best. If the bore is pitted (like an original in MLAIC competition), an unpatched ball works best. Frequently stippled (roll the bullet between two rasp files) to minimize drag, and possibly loaded with an overpowder wad or Cream of Wheat buffer.
 
AFAIK (which doesn't go very far) the "patch" in a smoothbore functions more like a wad in a shotgun shell, it is meant more to provide a seal so the powder does not blow past the ball or loose shot. I note as a some time Rev War reenactor paper is rammed down the barrel only for demonstrations, NEVER in a battle.
 
And, correct me if I'm wrong on this, with the balls for muzzle loaders being slightly smaller than the barrel bore if the balls are NOT patched they'll roll down and onto the ground when you tip the gun around to cap or load the pan. And that's considered as very bad form.... :D
 
Unrifled Musket BC

is being spoken here buddy for the most part , whole different animal than a rifled musket or rifled Long Rifle , hee hee hee :D
Your in good company , I had to go back and look myself to make sure what the heck they were talkin about . :D

Jaeger, Musket Virgin :D
 
Hey now

the South would have won that War had that happened Ginormous , ours were bigger than the Norths you know :D

Jaeger
 
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Your just mad Ratdog68

because your Balls are Blue , right :neener: And .31 Caliber :neener:

God, I think I de-railed this thread all on my own too , ooops , sorry

Jaeger
 
Rah ha ha

yeh , what he said :D

I always liked the look of the Trade Guns too , Muskets are just sometin I have never gotten into , yet ? I would assume they make great shotguns , buck and ball and such too .

Jaeger
 
No , you

dove in head first , your all the way up to your neck :D
And there is no backing out , which is a great thing , your a real asset to the sport and gunsmithing too . Honest .
Notice how asset is spelled ( ass-et ) . :D

Jaeger
 
Das Jaeger said:
dove in head first , your all the way up to your neck :D
And there is no backing out , which is a great thing , your a real asset to the sport and gunsmithing too . Honest .
Notice how asset is spelled ( ass-et ) . :D

Jaeger
Click to expand...
LOL Yeah... I did sorta jump in with both hooves. No regrets now that I finally HAVE everything I ordered and paid for. Got some tinkerin' to do yet on the T/C .50 Hawken... but, that'll be for when the weather goes south and I need to tinker indoors.

I gots LOTS of gleaning to do before I can don a "gunsmith" hat. But... I'll continue to learn bits and pieces as time goes by. Otherwise... what's the point if you're not learning?

I guess that beats being an "assette". :neener:
 
Everytime I read

a new thread about a new type of BP gun I don't owne or never have shot , I realy want one . This thread is no different :D
I think that tis a disease ? You have it too Ratdoggy68 :) ......
Hmmm , Musketittus ? I can't find it spelled in my medical terminolgy book , but I know its REAL affliction .
When I read this thread you can count on the Jaeger packin in this wealth of information these fine folks have shared . For the future of course :D

Jaeger
 
For now... I'm workin' through gaining a handle on my riflitis and pistolitis infections. No musketitis raining down on me at this point... but, it could happen. :D

I predict you'll beat me to the Rx for attending to the symptoms of musketitis.
 
Cosmoline said:
I tell you, there's no other shooting experience like firing a front stuffer that you built yourself
Click to expand...
I'll agree that it's right up there with shooting a longbow made by your own hands... from a raw piece of wood. One of these days I'll build myself a muzzleloader... and I'm sure I'll savor that first shot just as I did the first arrow from my longbow. Getting back to basics is a very good thing.
 
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